Photographic-print-exposure apparatus.



L. A. BELL.

PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINT EXPOSURE APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 1|

Patented J une 6, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

INVENTOR IQ. 61.5%

I I ATTORNEYS L. A. BELL.

PHOTOGRAPHS!) PRINT EXPOSURE APPARATUS. APPLICATION men AUG.H|1915.

1,185,866. Patented June 6,1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- INVENTOR THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAFH (3a., WASHINGTON. D.c.

L. A. BELL.

PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINT EXPOSURE APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. H, l9l5.

' Patented June 6, 1916.

J wmv x? INVENTOR A'rroniuzvs 3 $HEETS-SHEET 3.

THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPN c0., wAsmNa'rcN, D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LAWRENCE A. BELL, F MCMECHEN, WEST VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH T0W. E. HICKS, OF M'GMECHEN, WEST VIRGINIA.

PHOTOGRAPHIC-PRINT-EXPOSURE APPARATUS.

Application filed August 11, 1915.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, LAWRENCE A. BELL, acitizen of the United States of America, and resident of McMechen,county of Marshall, and State of lVest Virginia, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Photographic-Print-Exposure Apparatus, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates broadly to photograph developing apparatus, andmore specifically to a device for timing the exposure of photographicprints.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an apparatus forphotographic printing having means for accurately timing the exposure ofprints to the action of the printing rays of light.

A further object is to provide a device of the character describedembodying means whereby, when the door of the printing compartment isclosed, the lamps from which the printing rays emanate are automaticallylighted. And a still further object is to provide. in a device of thecharacter mentioned. adjustable means automatically set in operation bythe closing of the door of the printing compartment whereby said door isopened at the end of an interval of predetermined duration,accomplishing the extinguishment of the lights.

With these and other objects in view, the invention resides in thefeatures of construction, arrangement of parts and combinations ofelements which will hereinafter be exemplified, reference being hereinhad to the accompanying drawings. forming a part of this specification.in which- Figure 1 is a front elevation of the invention,showing thedoors partially open; Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of the electricwiring, showing the lamps lighted; Fig. 3 is a similar view, showing thelamps out; Fig. 4 is an enlarged partial vertical section. showing thetiming mechanism in rear elevation; Fig. 5 is a section on line 55, Fig.4; Fig. 6 is a partial top plan view, showing a part of the doorcontrolmechanism; Figs. 7 and 8 are horizontal sections taken respectively onlines 77 and 88, Fig. 4: Fig. 9 is a section on line 99, Fig. 6; andFig. 10 is a section on the line 1010. Fig. 8.

Rflfe ing to Said drawings, in which like Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented J line 6, 1916.

Serial No. 45,008.

designating characters distinguish like parts throughout the severalviews1 indirates a casing containing one or more printing compartments,two such compartments 2 and 3 being shown in the drawings. Also providedwithin said casing is a compartment 4 in which is located the largerportion of the timing mechanism. Access to the printing compartments 2and 3 is had through hinged doors 5 and 6 respectively, said doorsopening through the front wall of said casing. Each compartment isprovided with a red lamp 7 and one or more white or clear glass lamps 8,the electric wiring for said lamps being such that the lamps 7 remainlighted continuously and the uncolored lamps 8 are lighted only so longas the doors remain closed.

Suitably mounted in the lower part of compartment 4 are bearings 9 inwhich is journaled a horizontal drive-shaft 10 which carries thereon apulley 11 designed to be connected by belt to a motor or other source ofpower (not shown). Fixed on said shaft at a suitable point is a wormgear 13 disposed in driving relation to a spur gear 12 carried by avertically disposed feed screw 14 having threads with a predeterminedpitch. Said feed-screw has its opposite ends journaled in suitablebearing members 15 and 16 provided, respectively, at the upper and lowerends of said compartment 4, and preferably rotates on ball bearingsprovided in said members.

Rotatably mounted in a suitable supporting bracket. as 17. located inthe lower end of compartment 4, are the lower ends of two verticallydisposed rods 18 and 18 the upper ends of which are extended through andar rotatable in the top of the casing 1. Fixed on said rod 18 adjacentto its upper and lower ends. respectively, are arms 19 and 20 in whichare fixed the opposite ends of a vertical rod 21; and fixed on the rod18' are two arms 19 and 20', similar to arms 19 and 20. which carry averti cal rod 21. Vertically slidable on the rod 18 is a bracket 22having an arm 22 slidable upon rod 18; and a similar bracket 22 isslidably mounted on rods 18 and 21. Seated respectively upon the arms 22and 22 of said brackets are annularly grooved cylinders 23 and 23 thegrooves of which correspond in width with the threads provided on thefeed screw 14. Said cylinders 23 and 23 are rotatably mounted on saidrods 21 and 21', respectively, and normally rest upon their respectiveseating arms 22 and 22 and the latter are normally held swung outward topositions wherein said cylinders are out of engagement with said feedscrew. \Vhen, however, one of the rotatable rods, as 18, is slightlyrotated inward, the cylinder 23 will be thrust into engagement with therotating feed screw and will thereby be caused to travel upward on therod 21.

Fixed upon the upper projecting ends of the rods 18 and 18,respectively, are the ends of levers 24 and 24. Pivotally connected tothe opposite end of lever 24 is a rod 25 which has its opposite endpivoted to the free end of a lever 26 carried by the upper end of avertically disposed rotary rod 27 which projects upward through the topof the casing 1. The body portion of said rod 27 lies within compartment3 adjacent to the wall 23 which separates said compartment fromcompartment 4, and is rotatably supported on or in one or more brackets29. Fixed on the lower end of said rod 27 is one end of a lever 30 tothe opposite end of which is pivotally connected one end of a pin 31which is movable horizontally through a vertically disposed strip orcleat 32 against which the front edge portion of the door 6 is adaptedto seat when the latter occupies closed position. A spiral spring 33disposed in encircling relation to the rod 25 has one end seated againsta shoulder 34 formed on said rod and its other end seated against anupright lug 35 through which said rod is movable, said lug being rigidlymounted upon the top of the casing. Said spring serves to normallymaintain said rod 25 in a retracted position, maintaining the cylinder23,through the intermediate mechanism, out of operative engagement withthe feed screw, and also maintaining the pin 31 projected outward beyondthe face of the cleat 32. VVhen,however, the door 6 is closed, the pin31 is thereby thrust inward against the tension of the spring 33, and,through the intermediate mechanism described, the cylinder 23 is thrustinto engagement with the rotating feed screw. Prior to reaching thelimit of its upward travel, the upper end of the cylinder 23 engages theend of one arm of a bell-crank lever 36 the angular portion of which ismounted upon a suitably located pivot pin 37 and which has its other armprojected upward through a suitable slot 38 provided in the top of thecasing. The upper end of the upright arm of said bellcrank has pivotallyconnected thereto one end of a horizontally disposed angular rod or bar39 the opposite end of which is pivotally connected to one end of alever 40 which is fixed upon the upper projecting end of a vertical rod41 which is rotatably mounted, as in the top of the casing 1 and in abracket 42 carried on the inner face of the cleat 32. Fixed upon thelower end of said rod 41 is a latch 43 which extends outward through andis laterally movable in an opening 44 provided in the cleat 32, saidlatch being adapted to assume interlocking engagement with a suitablecatch, as the edge of a plate 45, carried by the door 6 for securing thelatter in closed position. A spiral spring 46 disposed in encirclingrelation to the bar 39 between a shoulder 47 formed on the latter and abracket 48 through which said bar is movable serves to yieldinglymaintain the latch 43 in a position for engaging the catch 45 of thedoor, and also normally holds the bell crank 36 in a rearwardly thrustposition wherein its lowermost arm occupies a downwardly inclinedposition in the path of movement of the cylinder 23.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that, upon closing the door 6,the bell-crank 36 will occupy the position ust mentioned; further, thepin 31 will thereby be pressed inward, and, through the intermediatemechanism described, the cylinder 23 will be thrust laterally intoengagement with the constantly rotated feed screw 14 whereby it will becaused to travel upward. \Vhen said cylinder engages the depending armof the bell-crank 36, the latter will thereby be gradually elevateduntil, through the intermediate mechanism described, the latch 43 willbe laterally withdrawn from interlocking engagement with the catch ofthe door 6, whereupon the latter will spring open, actuated by the pin31 which, due to the tension of spring 33, normally occupies anoutwardly thrust position.

The closing and opening of the door 6 respectively act to close and openan electric lamp circuit passing through the lamps 8 of compartment 3.Said lamp circuit is normally open, having its opposite terminals 49 and50 connected respectively to a fixed con tact 51 provided within thecleat 32 and a movable contact 62, the latter being yieldingly disposedin a position where it will be engaged by the door and thereby pressedinward into engagement with the fixed contact 50 when said door isclosed, thus effecting the lighting of said lamps. The wiring for thelamps is such that the circuit through the clear glass lamps 8 isnormally open and the circuit through the colored lamp 7 is permanentlyclosed, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

The lighting of compartment 2 is controlled in a manner identical withthat described with respect to compartment 3, the mechanismsintermediate the door 5 and the cylinder 23' being substantiallyidentical with those between the door 6 and the cylinder 23; and in thedrawings, the parts of the former corresponding to parts of the latterare designated by corresponding characters bearing a prime exponent.

As is apparent, the duration of time during which photographic printsplaced in the compartments 2 or 3 are subjected to the printing rays ofthe lamps 8 is regulated by adjustment of the travel of the cylinders.In other words, the rate of rotation of the feed screw 14 beingconstant, the cylinders -will travel a definite distance in a giventime; and, therefore, the support 22 may be preliminarily positioned onrods 18 and 21 so that it supports the cylinder 23 at a point remotefrom the door-opening position of the depending arm of the bell-crank 36a distance which will be traversed by said cylinder in a length of timecorresponding to the duration of the exposure to which it is desired theprints in compartment 3 shall be subjected. While the adjustment of thesupport 22 may be accomplished in any appropriate way, the meansemployed in the present embodiment comprises a flexible tape 52 which iswound on a reel 53 revolubly mounted on a horizontally disposed shaft 54which is suitably supported, as in oppositely disposed frame members 55.The support 22 is suspended on the free end of said tape. Fixed on saidreel is a spur gear 56 in mesh with a worm-gear 57 which is fixed on ashaft 58 journaled in suitably located bearings 59. The front end ofsaid shaft 58 projects outward through the front wall of the casing 1and has formed thereon or attached thereto a hand crank 60 by means ofwhich it may be rotated for effecting the raising or lowering of saidsupport 22.

The tape 50 is graduated or has printed thereon suitably spaced numbersor other suitable indicia, as shown most clearly in Fig. 8, whereby theadjustment may be facilitated, and a sight glass 61 provided in thecasing directly in front of the reel 53 afiords means for viewing saidindicia. Assuming, for example, that it is desired that the prints,cards, or the like to be printed within compartment 3 shall be exposedto the printing rays of the lamps 8 for a pe riod of forty-five seconds,the reel 53 is ro tated until the number 45 carried by the tape 52 isexposed to view through the sight glass. Said number 45 being so locatedon said tape that 45 seconds travel of the cylinder 23 will be requiredto effect the opening of the door 6 and the resultant breaking of thelamp circuit, the printing frame containing or bearing the prints isplaced within compartment 3 and the door 6 is closed. The circuitthrough the lamps is thereby closed, lighting the lamps, andsimultaneously the cylinder 23 is swung into engagement with feed screw14 and immediately begins its ascent. At the expiration of 45 seconds,the hell-crank 86 ill be moved to a position wherein, through theintermediate mechanism, the door 6 will be released, whereupon the lampcircuit is broken in the manner hereinbefore described.

The means employed for adjustment of support 22' for regulating theexposure of prints in compartment 2 is substantially similar in allrespects to that described in connection with the adjustment of support22, and in the drawings the parts of the former corresponding to partsof the latter are designated by corresponding characters bearihg a primeexponent.

'What is claimed is 1. A photographic print-exposing apparatus,comprising a printing compartment, electric lamps in said compartment,:1 normally open electric circuit in which said lamps are included, adoor opening into said compartment, means actuated by closing of saiddoor for closing the lamp circuit, a constantly driven element, andadjustable dooropening means normally disengaged from said element, saiddoor-opening means being moved into operative relation to said elementby the closing of said door and being adapted to effect the opening ofsaid door at the expiration of a predetermined interval.

2. A photographic print-exposing apparatus, comprising a printingcompartment, electric lamps in said compartment, a nor mally openelectric circuit in which said lamps are included, a door opening intosaid compartment, means actuated by closing of said door for closing thelamp circuit, a latch for holding said door in closed position, tripmechanism associated with said latch, a constantly driven element, amember adapted to be driven by said element into tripping relation tosaid trip mechanism whereby said latch is caused to release said door,said member being normally held in inoperative position with respect tosaid element and being moved into operative relation thereto by closingof said door, and means for so adjusting said member that apredetermined interval will intervene between the closing and opening ofthe door.

3. A photographic print-exposing apparatus, comprising a printingcompartment, electric lamps in said compartment, a normally openelectric circuit in which said lamps are included, a door opening intosaid compartment, means actuated by closing of said door for closing thelamp circuit, a latch for holding said door in closed position, tripmechanism associated with said latch, a constantly driven element, amember adapted to be driven by said element into tripping relationtosaid trip mechanism whereby said latch is caused to release said door,said member being normally held in inoperative position with respect tosaid ement and being moved into operative relation thereto by closing ofsaid door, and means for so adjusting the initial position of saidmember with respect to the tripping position thereof that its travel tosaid tripping position will occupy a predetermined interval.

4. A photographic print-exposing apparatus, comprising a printingcompartment, electric lamps in said compartment, a normally openelectric circuit in which said lamps are included, a door opening intosaid compartment, means actuated by closing of said door for closing thelamp circuit, a latch for holding said door in closed position, aconstantly driven element, a member adapted to be driven by saidelement, a lever disposed in the path of travel of said member andadapted to be moved by the latter, means interposed between said leverand said latch whereby the latter is released permitting said door toopen when said lever is moved by said member, means for adjusting theinitial position of said member, and means normally holding said memberin inoperative position, the last mentioned means being actuated byclosing of said door to move said member into operative relation to saidelement.

5. A photographic print-exposing apparatus, comprising a printingcompartment, electric lamps in said compartment, a normally openelectric circuit in which said lamps are included, a door opening intosaid compartment, means actuated by closing of said door for closing thelamp circuit, a latch for holding said door in closed position, aconstantly rotated vertically disposed feed screw, a grooved cylinderadapted to be elevated by said screw, a lever disposed in the path oftravel of said linder and adapted to be swung by the lat er at apredetermined point in its travel, means interposed between said leverand said latch whereby the latter is released permitting the door toopen when the former is actuated by said cylinder, and means normallyholding said cylinder out of engagement with said screw, thelast-mentioned means being actuated by closing of said door to move saidcylinder into operative relation to said screw.

6. A photographic print-exposing apparatus, comprising a printingcompartment, electric lamps in said compartment, a normally openelectric circuit in which said lamps are included, a door opening intosaid compartment, means actuated by closing of said door for closing thelamp circuit, a latch for holding said door in closed position, aconstantly rotated vertically disposed feed screw, a grooved cylinderadapted to be elevated by said screw, a lever disposed in the path oftravel of said cylinder and adapted to be swung by the latter at apredetermined point in its travel, means interposed between said leverand said latch whereby the latter is released permitting the door toopen when the former is actuated by said cylinder, means normallyholding said cylinder out oi engagement with said screw, thelast-mentioned means being actuated by closing of said door to move saidcylinder into operative relation to said screw, and means for initiallyadjusting said cylinder with respect to said screw whereby a period oftravel of predetermined duration will occur between the engagement ofthe cylinder with the screw and the actuation of said lever.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

LAWRENCE A. BELL. Witnesses W. G. Roncnns, H. E. DUNLAP.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0.

